First Posted: 1/13/2013
Doris E. (Williams ) Graham, 88, of Shawnee, Kan., slipped peacefully and quietly into eternity at home on Jan. 3, 2013 after a courageous and spirited battle with COPD.
Doris was the daughter of Thomas and Marena (Dawe) Williams and was born on Jan. 7, 1924 in Avoca.
Brothers and sisters included Elizabeth Williams Hughes, May Williams Webb, Marina Williams Borthwick, Thomas Williams, Ruth Williams Jones, William J. Williams, who are all deceased.
She is survived by three children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews and one sister-in-law, Amelia Williams.
Doris married Robert Graham of Avoca on May 13, 1944 and was married 34 years before Robert passed away suddenly in December 1978. They had three children, Donna who married John Wood of Kansas; Robert married to Missy, of Gouldsboro, and Traci L. Sands of Duryea.
Doris and Bob, traveled the world as Bob joined the Army Air Corps in World War II and made a career of the U.S. Air Force. The Graham family spent time living in the Philippine Islands as part of husband Bob’s military service. Whenever asked if she wanted to go on a road trip, her ready answer was My bags are packed. She was also quite fond of saying Well, that was an experience whenever something unusual happened.
Doris grew up in the St. John’s Primitive Methodist Church in Avoca and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in 1935. Having moved to Shawnee, Kan., in 2009, Doris has regularly attended First Baptist of Shawnee.
As a high school graduate, she did office work at PPL. She met her husband Bob at a PPL picnic. Doris assisted her husband Bob in publishing and distributing an advertising paper in Tennessee while Bob was stationed Seward Air Force Base. After Bob retired from the Air Force, the family moved to Aston, Pa., where Doris became a buyer of better women’s fashions for Strawbridge and Clothier of Philadelphia. Afterwards she worked for Walmart Catalog Co. in Aston.
Weekends found them in their camper in the Pocono Mountains making macramé hanging baskets and selling them to willing customers. After Bob retired a second time, from Boeing Vertol, he and Doris moved to the Poconos. When Bob died unexpectedly in 1978, Doris relocated to Avoca and worked in a local green house and nursery. She moved to Shawnee, Kan., in 2009 a few minutes from daughter Donna and husband John.
Doris played the piano, enjoyed classical music and passionately loved being with family; crafting, gardening, cooking and home making.
Doris was dearly loved by her children, grandchildren (five) and great grandchildren (eight). She was lovingly called Aunt Do by her many nieces and nephews; Chick by her late husband, Bob, and Nanny by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include, Jeremy D. Sands, wife Kaitlyn J. and daughter Maya of New York; Joshua G. Sands, wife Jennifer C. and daughter Nadia J.A., and son Nathan L. of Maryland; John Wood, wife Sonoko and daughter Mei Doris, and son Kazuya John of Miyazaki, Japan, and Susan Wood of Missouri; Rob Graham, wife Sue and children Rob, Lorrie, Brandon, and stepdaughter Chelsi of Maryland.
Doris had an infectious laugh, a wonderful smile, and was loved by all and will be missed by many.
Funeral service was Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at the Kniffen O’Malley Funeral Home, Inc., 728 Main St., Avoca, followed by burial in Langcliffe Cemetery in Avoca.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) or Kansas City Hospice, 9221 Ward Parkway No. 100, Kansas City, MO 64114
Send condolences at www.BestLifeTributes.com.